Landrieu fires back at Kennedy for being critical of crime-fighting efforts in New Orleans

Landrieu fires back at Kennedy for being critical of crime-fighting efforts in New Orleans

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Updated: 11:19 AM CDT Jul 13, 2017

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WEBVTT >> WE HAVE AN EXTRAORDINARYCRIME PROBLEM IN NEW ORLEANS.THE CITY IS RAPIDLY BECOMING THEMURDER AND ARMED ROBBERY CAPITALOF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.SULA: SENATOR JOHN KENNEDYTODAY, TARGETING NEW ORLEANSCRIME AS HE ADDRESSED POTENTIALFBI DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER WRAY.SENATOR KENNEDY'S COMMENTSFOLLOW AN OP-ED ABOUT FIXING NEWORLEANS CRIME PROBLEMS. HE SUGGESTS REVERSING THEEFFECTS OF A HIRING FREEZE ONTHE NOPD, LISTENING TO DISTRICTATTORNEY LEON CANNIZZARO, ANDASKING FOR HELP FROM LAWENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS IN OTHERPARISHES.IN TODAY'S SENATE JUDICIARYHEARING, THE SENATOR ASKED WRAYFOR HELP.>> IF YOU ARE CONFIRMED, IBELIEVE HE WILL BE, -- YOU WILLBE, CAN I COUNT ON YOU WITHINTHE LIMITED RESOURCES THAT YOUHAVE, ALL RESOURCES CONSIDEREDTO BE SCARCE, CAN I COUNT ON YOUTO GIVE US ADVICE AND HELP WITHWRESTLING WITH A HUGE CRIMEPROBLEM?>> YOU CAN COUNT ON ME TO TAKE AHARD LOOK AND FIGURE OUT HOW WECAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN NEWORLEANS, JUST LIKE WE NEED TOFIGURE OUT HOW TO BE MOREEFFECTIVE IN OTHER CITIESTARGETED BY VIOLENT CRIME.SULA: AND TODAY MAYOR MITCH, LANDRIEU RESPONDED BY SAYINGHE WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON

Landrieu fires back at Kennedy for being critical of crime-fighting efforts in New Orleans

Mayor Mitch Landrieu called U.S. Sen. John Kennedy a career politician after the Republican lawmaker spoke out about crime-fighting efforts during confirmation hearings for the next FBI director.

Kennedy, who represents Louisiana in the U.S. Senate, recently wrote an opinion column for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune in which he details failed crime-fighting efforts in the city. He said crime is stealing the soul of New Orleans while outlining several steps the city should take to combat violence.

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The U.S. senator also brought up the city's crime issues during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for Christopher Wray, President Donald Trump's nominee for FBI director. Kennedy asked Wray if he would step in to help New Orleans address the issue of crime.

"I have been to too many funerals and consoled too many mothers at crime scenes, for a career politician like John Kennedy to pander from the peanut gallery, especially when he can actually do something to help," Landrieu said in a statement on Wednesday.

Landrieu said Kennedy hasn't taken "one concrete step" toward making the city, state or nation safer, calling the U.S. senator's efforts "straight from the Vitter/Landry/Kennedy playbook."

"As a member of the powerful Senate Appropriations and Judiciary Committees, there is much Senator Kennedy can do to help -- starting with investing federal funds in police departments and federal law enforcement agencies to help reduce violence crime here on the ground," Landrieu said.

Landrieu said crime will continue to be his focus, outlining efforts his administration has taken to address violence. He and other city leaders recently unveiled a plan to increase pay at the New Orleans Police Departments in an effort to boost morale and attract recruits.

Kennedy, in his plan to address crime, said the city should reverse the effects of a hiring freeze on the Police Department, begin listening to Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro and ask for help from area law enforcement officials.